Lake County, Michigan
Lake County (formerly known as Aischum County) is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 12,096.[1] The county seat is Baldwin.[2]
History
[edit | edit source]The county was created by the Michigan Legislature in 1840 as Aischum County[3] (possibly from eshkam meaning "diminishing" in Ojibwe), before being renamed Lake County in 1843 for its many lakes. It was administered by a succession of other Michigan counties prior to the organization of county government in 1871.[4][5]
Geography
[edit | edit source]According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 574 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 567 square miles (1,470 km2) is land and 6.9 square miles (18 km2) (1.2%) is water.[6]
State trunkline highways
[edit | edit source]- Error: package.lua:80: module 'Module:Road data/strings/USA/MI' not found enters from Mason County; goes through Baldwin; continues east into Osceola County
- Error: package.lua:80: module 'Module:Road data/strings/USA/MI' not found enters Lake County from Newaygo County; passes through Baldwin; continues north to Wexford County
National Protected Area
[edit | edit source]- Manistee National Forest (part)
Adjacent counties
[edit | edit source]- Osceola County (east)
- Oceana County (southwest)
- Wexford County (northeast)
- Mason County (west)
- Manistee County (northwest)
- Newaygo County (south)
- Mecosta County (southeast)
Demographics
[edit | edit source]
Racial and etnic composition
[edit | edit source]| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[8] | Pop 1990[9] | Pop 2000[10] | Pop 2010[11] | Pop 2020[12] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 6,300 | 7,297 | 9,511 | 9,897 | 9,360 | 81.70% | 85.02% | 83.92% | 85.77% | 77.38% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,281 | 1,142 | 1,252 | 1,034 | 795 | 16.61% | 13.31% | 11.05% | 8.96% | 6.57% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 50 | 74 | 112 | 78 | 65 | 0.65% | 0.86% | 0.99% | 0.68% | 0.54% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 7 | 9 | 17 | 16 | 45 | 0.09% | 0.10% | 0.15% | 0.14% | 0.37% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [13] | x [14] | 4 | 1 | 8 | x | x | 0.04% | 0.01% | 0.07% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 23 | 1 | 15 | 2 | 24 | 0.30% | 0.01% | 0.13% | 0.02% | 0.20% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [15] | x [16] | 231 | 268 | 604 | x | x | 2.04% | 2.32% | 4.99% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 50 | 60 | 191 | 243 | 1,195 | 0.65% | 0.70% | 1.69% | 2.11% | 9.88% |
| Total | 7,711 | 8,583 | 11,333 | 11,539 | 12,096 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
[edit | edit source]As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 12,096. The median age was 51.5 years, 15.7% of residents were under the age of 18, and 26.6% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 127.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 131.2 males.[17]
The racial makeup of the county was 85.1% White, 7.4% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 5.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 9.9% of the population.[18]
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[19]
There were 5,079 households in the county, of which 19.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 44.3% were married-couple households, 25.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[17]
There were 13,315 housing units, of which 61.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 82.1% were owner-occupied and 17.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.2%.[17]
2000 census
[edit | edit source]As of the 2000 census, there were 11,333 people, 4,704 households, and 3,052 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile (7.7 people/km2). There were 13,498 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9.3/km2).[20]
The racial makeup of the county was 84.66% White, 11.17% Black or African American, 1.01% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.57% from other races, and 2.40% from two or more races. 1.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.2% were of English ancestry, 20.0% were of German ancestry, 8.4% Irish, and 6.1% Dutch ancestry. 97.5% spoke only English, while 1.3% spoke Spanish at home.[20]
There were 4,704 households, out of which 23.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.10% were non-families. 29.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.79.[20]
In the county, 21.90% of the population was under the age of 18, 8.00% was from 18 to 24, 22.70% from 25 to 44, 27.60% from 45 to 64, and 19.70% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 109.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.60 males.[20]
The median income for a household in the county was $26,622, and the median income for a family was $32,086. Males had a median income of $30,124 versus $21,886 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,457. About 14.70% of families and 19.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.30% of those under age 18 and 12.00% of those age 65 or over.[20] 24/7 Wall St. reported that Lake County is the poorest county in Michigan.[21]
Government
[edit | edit source]| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1884 | 951 | 55.42% | 656 | 38.23% | 109 | 6.35% |
| 1888 | 1,061 | 54.24% | 807 | 41.26% | 88 | 4.50% |
| 1892 | 648 | 47.79% | 610 | 44.99% | 98 | 7.23% |
| 1896 | 888 | 60.61% | 547 | 37.34% | 30 | 2.05% |
| 1900 | 841 | 68.88% | 350 | 28.67% | 30 | 2.46% |
| 1904 | 907 | 79.42% | 211 | 18.48% | 24 | 2.10% |
| 1908 | 673 | 68.88% | 253 | 25.90% | 51 | 5.22% |
| 1912 | 227 | 24.02% | 186 | 19.68% | 532 | 56.30% |
| 1916 | 588 | 60.68% | 347 | 35.81% | 34 | 3.51% |
| 1920 | 926 | 74.80% | 261 | 21.08% | 51 | 4.12% |
| 1924 | 1,069 | 68.79% | 313 | 20.14% | 172 | 11.07% |
| 1928 | 1,147 | 73.06% | 409 | 26.05% | 14 | 0.89% |
| 1932 | 991 | 42.86% | 1,241 | 53.68% | 80 | 3.46% |
| 1936 | 1,091 | 43.76% | 1,337 | 53.63% | 65 | 2.61% |
| 1940 | 1,413 | 56.63% | 1,070 | 42.89% | 12 | 0.48% |
| 1944 | 1,145 | 58.84% | 794 | 40.80% | 7 | 0.36% |
| 1948 | 1,348 | 54.14% | 1,077 | 43.25% | 65 | 2.61% |
| 1952 | 1,549 | 57.46% | 1,127 | 41.80% | 20 | 0.74% |
| 1956 | 1,614 | 59.80% | 1,083 | 40.13% | 2 | 0.07% |
| 1960 | 1,441 | 52.27% | 1,313 | 47.62% | 3 | 0.11% |
| 1964 | 791 | 28.56% | 1,978 | 71.41% | 1 | 0.04% |
| 1968 | 1,094 | 39.10% | 1,482 | 52.97% | 222 | 7.93% |
| 1972 | 1,532 | 48.93% | 1,548 | 49.44% | 51 | 1.63% |
| 1976 | 1,598 | 41.96% | 2,179 | 57.22% | 31 | 0.81% |
| 1980 | 1,730 | 43.22% | 2,041 | 50.99% | 232 | 5.80% |
| 1984 | 2,125 | 53.09% | 1,845 | 46.09% | 33 | 0.82% |
| 1988 | 1,713 | 46.32% | 1,958 | 52.95% | 27 | 0.73% |
| 1992 | 1,194 | 26.26% | 2,351 | 51.72% | 1,001 | 22.02% |
| 1996 | 1,213 | 27.61% | 2,606 | 59.31% | 575 | 13.09% |
| 2000 | 1,961 | 41.79% | 2,584 | 55.06% | 148 | 3.15% |
| 2004 | 2,503 | 47.71% | 2,675 | 50.99% | 68 | 1.30% |
| 2008 | 2,269 | 42.88% | 2,919 | 55.16% | 104 | 1.97% |
| 2012 | 2,487 | 46.84% | 2,752 | 51.83% | 71 | 1.34% |
| 2016 | 3,159 | 58.96% | 1,939 | 36.19% | 260 | 4.85% |
| 2020 | 3,946 | 62.32% | 2,288 | 36.13% | 98 | 1.55% |
| 2024 | 4,523 | 65.27% | 2,298 | 33.16% | 109 | 1.57% |
| 2016 | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% |
Template:U.S. SenHead Template:U.S. SenRow Template:U.S. SenFoot Template:M.I. GovHead Template:M.I. GovRow Template:M.I GovFoot The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget but has only limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions — police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.
Board of Commissioners
[edit | edit source]- District 1 commissioner: Robert Sanders, vice chair
- District 2 commissioner: Howard Lodholtz, chairman
- District 3 commissioner: Kristine Raymond, vice chair pro tem
- District 4 commissioner: Dawn Fuller
- District 5 commissioner: Mike Seroczynski
- District 6 commissioner: Jamie Russell
- District 7 commissioner: Clyde Welford
Elected officials
[edit | edit source]- Chief Trial Court Judge: David M. Glancy
- Prosecuting Attorney: Tom Evans
- Sheriff: Richard L. Martin
- County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Patti Pacola
- County Treasurer: Kellie Allen
- County Surveyor: Patrick Johnson
County departments
[edit | edit source]- County Administrator: Tobi Lake
- Code Official: David Wright
- Equalization Director: Anthony Meyaard
- 911 Director: Brian Virden
- Emergency Management Director: Jake Carter
- Veterans Affairs Rep: Nicole Barton
- Information Technology (IT): Mike Flees
(information as of March 2026)
Communities
[edit | edit source]
Villages
[edit | edit source]Civil townships
[edit | edit source]Other unincorporated communities
[edit | edit source]Education
[edit | edit source]The West Shore Educational Service District, based in Ludington, services the districts in the county along with those of Mason and Oceana counties. The intermediate school district offers regional special education and general education services, as well as technical career programs for its students.[23]
Lake County is served by the one regular public school district, Baldwin Community Schools.[24]
See also
[edit | edit source]- List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Lake County, Michigan
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Lake County, Michigan
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ↑ George Dawson (1840). Acts of the Legislature of the State of Michigan Passed at the Annual Session of 1840. Detroit. pp. 196–200.
- ↑ "Bibliography on Lake County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Newberry Library. "Michigan: Individual County Chronologies". Atlas of County Historical Boundaries. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
- ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
- ↑ "2025 TIGER/Line® Shapefiles". www.census.gov. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
- ↑ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Michigan - Tables 15 and 16 – Race by Sex: 1980 and Tables 16 and 17 – Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 24-59. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 11, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Michigan: Table 3-5 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 37-179. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2026 – via Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Lake County, Michigan". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lake County, Michigan". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lake County, Michigan". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
- ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
- ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
- ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ↑ Frohlich, Thomas C.; Kent, Alexander; Sauter, Michael B.; Stebbins, Sam (January 27, 2016). "The Poorest County in Every State". 24/7 Wall St. Archived from the original on February 2, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
- ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
- ↑ "About us". West Shore Educational Service District. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics. "Search for Public School Data - Lake County, MI". Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
External links
[edit | edit source]- Lake County Road Commission Website
- "Bibliography on Lake County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- Lake County Website
- Lake County Chamber of Commerce
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